14th BRICS summit to review current global issues, reach key agreements

At the 14th BRICS summit which is to be hosted by China in a virtual mode on 23-24 June, the member nations will review the current global issues and will reach key agreements, said Russian Embassy

At the 14th BRICS summit which is to be hosted by China in a virtual mode on 23-24 June, the member nations will review the current global issues and will reach key agreements, said Russian Embassy in India on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 14th BRICS summit in a virtual mode. “At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be attending the 14th BRICS Summit hosted by China in virtual mode on 23-24 June 2022. This includes a High-Level Dialogue on Global Development with guest countries on June 24,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa will discuss the status of diverse political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, the Embassy said. “There are also plans to review current international and regional issues. The #BRICS summit’s final Declaration will formalise key agreements. On June 24, Vladimir #Putin will also speak at a ‘BRICS Plus‘ session involving the leaders of several invited states,” it added…

Recent floods in Afghanistan caused by incessant rain kill 400 people

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has confirmed that 400 people have died in the recent floods triggered by incessant rain across the country

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has confirmed that 400 people have died in the recent floods triggered by incessant rain across the country. The floods hit the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Laghman, Panjshir, Parwan, Kabul, Kapisa, Maidan Wardak, Bamiyan, Ghazni, Logar, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Takhar, Paktia, Khost and Daikundi, as well as the Salang areas, TOLO News reported.

“The wounded have been evacuated to the hospitals. The people whose residences were damaged in the floods, they have been evacuated and provided with tents,” Mawlawi Sharfuddin Muslim, the deputy Minister of Natural Disaster Management, said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement added that the floods have also inflicted financial losses. In 2022, over 30,000 people have been affected by natural disasters in Afghanistan including more than 5,000 people affected by flash flooding.

Uber may have explored selling Indian arm; company calls the report false

The US company Uber began weighing alternatives and reached out to several interested parties after recognizing it had limited potential for profitable expansion in Indian market.

Uber Technologies Inc. explored options for its Indian ride-hailing business, including a sale, but suspended discussions after tech startup valuations cratered, people familiar with the matter said. The US company began weighing alternatives and reached out to several interested parties after recognizing it had limited potential for profitable expansion in the country, the people said, asking not to be named as the information is not public. It pondered a stock swap with local companies or even a pullout, before a global equity market rout upended plans, the people added. A stock deal was favored in exploratory talks as that would allow Uber to retain a foothold in India, the people said.

Uber and its local-rival Ola had been struggling to eke out a profit in a rapidly growing but price-sensitive market, where constant driver attrition was pressuring margins. A sale to a local operator could have mirrored similar deals it struck with Didi Global Inc. in China and Grab Holdings Ltd. in Southeast Asia, where Uber ceded the markets but kept an equity stake in the dominant local player to tap future growth. The maneuvers ended costly turf wars waged with driver incentives and cash subsidies….Read More

Pak duo among 4 terrorists killed in twin J&K encounters in Kupwara, Kulgam

The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army neutralised four terrorists, including two Pakistani terrorists, in two separate anti-terrorist operations in Kupwara and Kulgam districts respectively

The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army neutralised four terrorists, including two Pakistani terrorists, in two separate anti-terrorist operations in Kupwara and Kulgam districts respectively, police officials said.

“Earlier, Kupwara police along with Army (28RR) launched a joint anti-terrorist operation on Sunday on the disclosure of an arrested terrorist Showkat Ahmad Sheikh in forests of Chandigam Lolab area of Kupwara,” police said. During the search of a hideout, the hiding terrorists started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. The police added that during the initial exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed and the arrested terrorist leading search party also got trapped…Read More

Assam floods: 9 die in last 24 hours, CM Sarma holds review meeting

With over 127,600 people affected by the Assam floods, the death toll in the state has now jumped to 71

In the last 24 hours, nine people, including three children, died in Assam flood situation in the state worsened. The death toll from in this year’s flood and landslides in Assam has now jumped to 71, while at least eight people have gone missing.

More than 420,000 people across 33 districts, including Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, have been affected in the second wave of deluge. Out of the nine deaths reported in the last 24 hours, three were reported from the Cachar district, two from Barpeta and one each from Bajali, Kamrup, Karimganj and Udalguri districts.

Also Read: Assam villages flooded in devastating rains, PM Modi calls up Himanta Sarma Meanwhile, 4 people have gone missing from the Dibrugarh districts, and one each from Cachar, Hojai, Tamulpur and Udalguri districts. With over 127,600 people affected by the floods, Barpeta is the worst-hit district Assam, followed by Darrang with nearly 394,000 people affected and Nagaon with more than 364,000 people hit…Read More

Was ‘Agnipath’ a signature Rajnath Singh scheme in the first place?

The space for Rajnath in UP politics has shrunk after Yogi Adityanath appeared on the scene

Barring a minor “one-time” tweak in the upper-age limit for armed forces recruitment under the Agnipath scheme, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stuck to his guns that the scheme will change the profile of the armed forces, making them younger-looking. As swathes of India, from rural areas to urban, from north to south, burn, Rajnath stands unmoved: Ironically over a scheme in which he has had little to contribute, despite being defence minister.

Agnipath: Data shows veterans fail to find govt jobs after retirement

Between 32 Central ministries, only 1.60% of the 22,168 positions reserved for veterans have been filled

A meagre 2.4 per cent of ex-servicemen who applied for a job could get one as state and central governments have been unable to recruit against the reserved quota. Public sector utilities (PSUs), ministries and officials of Sainik boards have blamed it on the lack of skill among ex-servicemen. They contend that veterans’ inability to qualify in selection exams and non-recognition of qualifications obtained from the military are reasons why their recruitment has remained significantly low, pushing them toward low-skill jobs.

As protests over the Agnipath scheme rage across the country, the government has announced reservations in job vacancies across sectors for around 34,000 “Agniveers” who will retire after four years of service. However, data from Director General Resettlement- the nodal body responsible for rehabilitating retired military personnel, shows that states, central public sector units, including defence PSUs, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have failed to recruit against the vacancies reserved for veterans.

Assam floods: 4 dead, Manas, Brahmaputra rivers flowing above danger mark

As many as four people died in the last 24 hours in Assam due to the flood which has affected over 110K people in 25 districts of the state

As many as four people died in the last 24 hours in Assam due to the Assam flood which has affected 11.09 lakh people in 25 districts of the state. The water level of the Manas, Pagladiya, Puthimari, Kopili, Gaurang and Brahmaputra rivers are also flowing above the danger level mark in many places in Assam. The flood waters have submerged 19782.80 hectares of cropland in the flood-hit districts. According to state government data, 1,510 villages under 72 revenue circles are currently underwater.

All educational institutions in Kamrup Metropolitan District are closed on Friday, in view of the heavy rainfall warning. In view of water logging at km 347/6-8 between Nalbari and Ghograpar of Rangiya division of Assam, services of several trains have been cancelled, partially cancelled and diverted by North East Frontier Railway, informed Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO), Northeast Frontier Railway…Read More

Anti-Agnipath stir indicator of unemployment crisis in India: K T Rama Rao

From One Rank – One Pension to proposed No Rank – No Pension!,” Rama Rao, known as KTR, tweeted

With protests against the Centre’s new ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment of defence personnel turning violent in several parts of the country, Telangana Minister for IT and Industries K T Rama Rao on Friday said the stir indicates the unemployment problem in the country. “The violent protests against #AgniveerScheme is an eye-opener & acute indicator of the magnitude of unemployment crisis in the country

Pehle Desh ke Kisan Ke Saath ??????? Aur Ab Desh ke Jawan Ke Saath ???????

From One Rank – One Pension to proposed No Rank – No Pension!,” Rama Rao, known as KTR, tweeted. The Ministry of Defence had on Tuesday unveiled the Agnipath scheme which is a pan-India merit-based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. Under the scheme, young persons will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as “Agniveer” for a period of four years, including training period…Read More

Agnipath scheme: Violent protests continue in Bihar, 2 trains set on fire

Violent protests over the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in armed forces continued across Bihar on Friday with agitators disrupting rail and road traffic

Violent protests over the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in armed forces continued across Bihar on Friday with agitators disrupting rail and road traffic and setting the Bhagalpur-New Delhi Vikramshila Express and Jammu Tawi-Guwahati Express trains on fire. Several organisations have given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Modi government to withdraw the Agnipath scheme or else they will intensify the agitation and call for Bharat Bandh.

Raju Yadav, the convener of Army Recruitment personnel Morcha; Manoj Manjil, Left party MLA from the Agiyaon Assembly constituency and national president of INAUS, Sandeep Saurav, MLA of Paliganj and secretary of AISA Bihar unit; Ajit Kushwaha, MLA of Dumraon; Aftab Alam, Vikas Yadav and many others related to AISA (All India Students Association) and INAUS have given the ultimatum to the Central government to withdraw the Agnipath scheme.

The agitation by the students and job aspirants continued in almost all the districts of Bihar. In Lakhisarai, the agitating students set the Bhagalpur-New Delhi Vikramshila Express on fire as soon as the train arrived at the platform. The agitated youths asked the passengers to come out from the trains and then set the train afire…Read More